Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby Winner 2021 Kathleen Phillips
VALDEZ, Alaska – It’s her first year living in Valdez but soon everyone in town will know her name. Kathleen Phillips reeled in a 12.82 pound silver salmon to top the Valdez Fish Derbies leader board on Saturday and captured the title of “Queen of the Silver Salmon Sisterhood”. The Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby was just shy of 500 participants this year and when there are that many women fishing in a town with a population of 3,000, everyone is going to know about it. Phillips knew she had a nice size fish and was thrilled to win the Women’s Derby but shortly after weighing in her fish she had no idea that the salmon she caught also took over 1st place in the regular Silver Salmon Derby. “I knew I had a nice fish, but I had no idea it was going to be the leader, leader” Phillips said. After finding out the grand prize for the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby is $10,000 Phillips was quiet for a minute and then responded, “OK, now you are panicking me”.
When asked where she caught her derby winning fish, all Phillips would share was that her silver salmon was out near the narrows and they were fishing deep. Phillips takes home $1,000 cash and $1,000 in prizes from Prospector Outfitters in addition to the Queen of the Silver Salmon Sisterhood tiara and bathrobe. Chandra Gilfillan of Valdez took 2nd place in the Valdez Women’s Derby with a 12.30 pound silver and Linda Kimes of Helena, Montana captured 3rd place with a 12.18 pound silver salmon.
This weekend silver salmon were schooled up along the shoreline from the narrows back toward Gold Creek. As August continues, silver salmon will move toward Port Valdez and shore fishing should be hot through the end of the derby September 5th.
In the Valdez Halibut Derby, Steve Peichel is still leading with the 246.8 pound halibut he caught July 31st. Maren Russman of Lino Lakes, Minnesota is currently in 2nd place overall with a 214.8 pound halibut and Terrence McCabe of Valdez is holding onto 3rd place right now with a 202.0 pound halibut.
Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby WINNERS
1st Kathleen Phillips Valdez, AK 12.82 lbs. Aug 14 Alaska Saint
2nd Chandra Gilfillan Valdez, AK 12.30 lbs. Aug 14 Lu Bob
3rd Linda Kimes Helena, MT 12.18 lbs. Aug 14 Dawg Haus
Valdez Silver Salmon Derby Overall Leaders
1st Kathleen Phillips Valdez, AK 12.82 lbs. Aug 14 Alaska Saint
2nd Anneliese Marr Cumming, GA 12.52 lbs. Aug 13 Kade Thomas
3rd Kyle Hayden Anchorage, AK 12.40 lbs. Aug 6 Thin Blue Line
Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders
1st Steve Peichel Frazee, MN 246.8 lbs. July 31 Chugach Girl
2nd Maren Russman Lino Lakes, MN 214.8 lbs. July 21 Nunatak
3rd Terrence McCabe Valdez, AK 202.0 lbs. July 5 Only Fins
Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners
1st Dan Cotter Platteville, WI 177.2 lbs. Aug 13 Dan Orion
2nd Tim Rathbum Palmer, AK 170.2 lbs. Aug 13 Lacey Lee